Obama, Clinton remember fallen diplomats, vowing justice

9/14/12 3:05 PM EDT

President Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and other top administration officials paid their respects to four fallen American diplomats at Joint Base Andrews Friday.

"Their sacrifice will never be forgotten," Obama said in brief remarks that commemorated the four State Department employees killed in Benghazi, Libya. U.S. ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens and three other State Department employees were killed earlier this week at the U.S. consulate in that city after riots broke out over an anti-Islamic film that mocked the Muslim prophet.

At a somber ceremony that brought the bodies of the four victims back home to a military base just outside of Washington D.C., Obama vowed that America would not be intimated into retreating from the world stage.

"Justice will come to those who harm Americans," Obama said, repeating a vow that he and top administration officials have made all week.

"The United States of America will never retreat from the world. We will never stop working for the dignity and freedom that every person deserves — whatever their creed, whatever their faith," he said.

"Even in our grief, we will be resolute. For we are Americans and we hold our head high. Knowing that because of these patriots, because of you, this country that we love will always shine as a light unto the world," Obama said.

Clinton also delivered brief remarks, warning governments across the Muslim world to control the rioting, looting and mob mentality that has spread in the wake of an anti-Islamic film posted online.

Referring to the 2011 protests that swept across dozens of countries, Clinton also said that Arab Spring countries "didn't trade the tyranny of a dictator for the tyranny of a mob."

"Reasonable people and responsible leaders in these countries need to do everything they can to restore security and hold acceptable those behind these violent acts. And we will, under the president's leadership, keep taking steps to protect our personnel around the world," Clinton said.

"There will be more difficult days ahead, but it is important that we don't lose sight of the fundamental fact that America must keep leading the world," Clinton said.